Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Salary
The median pay for a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is $45,620/year ($21.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.84), that's roughly $47,600 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,343/month, about 42.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Buffalo-Cheektowaga’s Regional Price Parity (95.84). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
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What this looks like in Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Buffalo-Cheektowaga runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,343/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 95.84) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for pump operators, except wellhead pumperss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in metros near Buffalo-Cheektowaga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $64K | $56K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $47K | $47K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Entry-level pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $92K | +49% | 50 |
| North Dakota | $81K | +32% | 70 |
| Alaska | $80K | +30% | 120 |
| Wyoming | $78K | +26% | 290 |
| Connecticut | $72K | +16% | 30 |
| Montana | $72K | +16% | 50 |
| Michigan | $70K | +13% | 40 |
| Alabama | $67K | +8% | 100 |
| Virginia | $67K | +8% | 150 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +5% | 310 |
| Ohio | $65K | +5% | 150 |
| Louisiana | $64K | +4% | 1,370 |
| Georgia | $64K | +4% | 130 |
| Texas | $62K | +0% | 2,110 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -0% | 70 |
| Utah | $62K | -0% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -1% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -2% | 190 |
| Indiana | $61K | -2% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -2% | 70 |
| Idaho | $60K | -3% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $60K | -3% | 60 |
| Florida | $59K | -4% | 510 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -5% | 80 |
| Nevada | $58K | -6% | 150 |
| California | $58K | -7% | 1,220 |
| Washington | $57K | -8% | 80 |
| Oregon | $55K | -12% | 630 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -16% | 80 |
| Maine | $51K | -17% | N/A |
| New York | $48K | -22% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -24% | 90 |
| Colorado | $47K | -24% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $47K | -25% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $46K | -25% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $46K | -26% | 180 |
| Missouri | $45K | -28% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Buffalo-Cheektowaga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pump operators, except wellhead pumper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,343/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pump operators, except wellhead pumpers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,692/month. At HUD’s $1,343/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is pump operators, except wellhead pumper a high-paying job in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $46K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Buffalo-Cheektowaga compare to the national average for pump operators, except wellhead pumpers?
Buffalo-Cheektowaga pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.84), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median is $45,620 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,870, and experienced pump operators, except wellhead pumpers can clear $58,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,066/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,343/month, which eats 43.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary go in Buffalo-Cheektowaga?
Buffalo-Cheektowaga has a Regional Price Parity of 95.84 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pump operators, except wellhead pumpers salary is worth about $47,600 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pump operators, except wellhead pumpers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.